Machine for making concrete blocks.



PATENTED SEPT. 10, 1907 W. G. TOWER.

MACHINE FOR MAKING CONCRETE BLOGKS.

, APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 26, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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PETERS co, wAsumaToN. n4 :4

No. 865,454. PATENTED SEPT. 10, 1907.

' W. G. TOWER. MACHINE FOR MAKING CONCRETE BLOCKS.

' APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 26, 1905 2 SHEBTSSHEET 2.

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UNITED STATES WALLACE Gv TOWER, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OFTI-IREE-FOURTI-IS TO EDWARD E. EVANS, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

MACHINE FOR MAKING CONCRETE BLOCKS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 10,1907.

Application filed September 26,1905. Serial No. 280.167.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, \VALLACE G. TownR, a citizen of the United States,residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for MakingConcrete Blocks; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figuresof reference marked thereon, which form a part of this'specification.

My invention relates to a machine for making concrete blocks, and hasfor its object to provide a device of the class described in which aframe comprising skeleton side and end gates is mounted on a suitableplatform, and adapted to carry a set of adjustable mold plates; theprincipal object of my invention being to reduce the cost of suchmachines which heretofore have been constructed with the mold plateshinged directly to the platform, this latter structure necessitating agreat number of mold plates each of sufficient weight to give therequired rigidity to the mold.

In a machine constructed according to my invention, the frame iscomposed of side and end gates suitably mounted on the platform and soconstructed that the mold plates may be easily and quickly securedthereto. With this arrangement the mold plates may be made much lighterin weight without weakening the machine, the necessary rigidity beingprovided by the machine frame to which they are attached.

Other objects of my invention are to provide the improved details ofstructure which will presently be fully described and pointed out in theclaims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part ofthis specification in which like reference numerals refer to like partsthroughout the several views and in which,-

Figure l is a perspective view of a machine constructed according to myinvention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a front gate carrying a setof mold plates of varying size and design. Fig. 3 is a front elevationof the machine shown carrying a full length rock face mold plate andshowing the means for securing same to the frame. Fig. 4 is a top planview of the machine. Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5*5 Fig. 3.Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a small rock face plate showing thestuds which project through the slots in the frame gates.

Referring more in detail to the drawings,1 is the mold platform which ispreferably provided with an end offset 2 as shown in the drawing.

On the front of platform 1 and at the side of offset 2 are hinge members3 arranged in pairs between which fit the hinge members 4 of a frontframe gate 5 and end frame gate 6.

Carried on platform 1 is a base plate 7, having legs 8 which support theback frame gate 9. 10 is a similar base plate carried on the offsetportion 2 of platform 1, and provided with a leg 11 which carries theback frame gate 12 of the offset portion of the mold.

Rigidly secured to the ends of back plates 9 and 12 preferably by bolts13 which pass through said gates and through an L on the end gates arethe end frame gates 1414* 15 are latches hinged to gates 6, and havinglips 16 which fit over the top edges of front gate 5 and end gate 14 toretain same in position; said front and end gates being provided withlips 17 to act as keepers for said latches. 18 is a similar latch of theend gate 14* which engages the adjacent top edge of front gate 5, and isheld in position by the keeper 19 on said front gate.

Fitting within the mold frame is an offbearing plate 20, the rear end ofwhich is adapted to slide under the back gates 9 and 12, for a purposepresently set forth. The mold gates 56912 and 141 f are preferablyprovided with cut out portionsfor the purpose of reducing their weight,and are further provided with horizontal slots 22 near their upper andlower edges. Fitting within said mold frame are a series of face plates23, which may be of any suitable design, and are provided with threadedstuds 24 on their outer surfaces, adapted to project through slots 22 ofthe frame gates.

25 are thumb nuts engaging studs 24 without the frame, for the purposeof tightening said face plates against the frame gates to hold same inposition.

26 is a division plate fitting within the mold between two sets of faceplates, and dividing said mold into compartments in order that twoblocks which may be of different shape and design, may be made with asingle operation of the machine. 1

In the rear of platform 1 is a transverse slot 26, and in base plate 7directly above slot 26, and extending at right angles thereto is a slot27.

Extending through slots 2o and 27 is a bolt 28 carrying a nut 29 bywhich said base plate may be rigidly secured to the platform.

30 are handles on the front plate 5 for raising and lowering said plateduring the operation of the mold.

In the operation of my machine, a set of suitable face plates aresecured to the frame gates 9 and 12, and the bases 7 and 10 movedforward or backward until said gates are properly adjusted to mold ablock of the desired width, when the nut 2-9 on bolt 28 is tightened andthe base plates 7 and 10 rigidly secured to platform 1.

By means of latches 15 the frame gates are then locked in their uprightpositions, and if more than one block is to be made, division plate 26is inserted between the two sets of mold plates, and the material pouredinto the formed mold and tamped. As soon as the material has becomesufficiently hardened latches 15 and 18 are raised, and the front andend gates 5 and 6 are swung down and the off bearing plate 20 removedwith the stone. When a suflicient number of blocks of'any one design hasbeen made that set of face plates may be removed, and others adjusted onthe frame gates Without the necessity of dismembering the entire mold. I

By having the off bearing plate 20 fitting beneath the back gates 9 and12, the necessity for having oifbearing plates of different widths isobviated, as when a narrow stone is being made, the back gates may slideinwardly over the offbearing plate, and when the stone is finished theolf bearing plate may be moved outwardly from beneath said back gates. ablock of greater Width, the back gates may be moved outwardly to the endof the off bearing plate and secured in that position in the mannerdescribed.

While I have specifically described my invention, 1 do not wish to beunderstood as limiting myself to the exact details of structure thereinshown and described inasmuch as the same may be varied without departingfrom the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim as new therein anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is,-

1. In a device of the class described, a suitable plat form. side andend gates having slots therein carried on said platform. mold plateshaving studs thereon mounted on said gates with said studs projectingthrough the slots in said gates and nuts 011 said studs substantially asand for the purpose set forth.

2. In a concreteblock machine, a plurality of interchangeableface-plates provided with outwardlyproject When it is desired to form Iing screw-studs, in combination with a hinged mold mem her which isprovided with openings adapted to receive said studs.

3. In a concrete-block machine. a hinged mold member provided with aslot, and a detachable face-plate provided with means passing throughthe slot for attaching the face-plate to the mold member.

4. in a concreleblock machine, a hinged mold member provided with twoslots, and a detachable face-plate provided with means passing throughthe slots for attaching the face-plate to the mold member.

5. In a concrete-block machine, a hinged mold member having openingsadapted to receive projections on a detachable face-plate in combinationwith a detachable faceplate which is provided with such projections, andnuts for securing said projections in position.

(3. In a device of the class described, a platform having slots therein.suitable front and end gates, a slotted base plate movable on saidplatform, a back plate mounted on said base plate. and means extendingthrough the slots in said platform and base plate for binding said baseplate to said platform.

7. In a device of the class described. a platform having slots therein,suitable front and end gates. a base plate movable on said platform andhaving slots therein extending at right angles to the slots in saidplatform, and bolts extending through said slots for binding said baseplate and platform together.

8. In a device of the class described. a platform having slots therein.a front gate hinged to said platform, a slotted base plate movable onsaid platform and Carrying a back gate. end gates rigid on said backgate, and means for binding said base plate to said platform.

9. In a device of the class described, a. slotted platform, a front gatehinged to said platform, a base plate movable on said platform andhaving slots therein extending at right angles to the slots in theplatform, end gates rigid on said back plate, latches on said end gatesengaging said front gate and separate mold plates carried by said gatesfor the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

WALLACE G. TOWER.

Witnesses E. E. Evans, E. E. CARPENTER.

